Sorry MinorAxis! Somehow I missed that list. Well I could research everything, but it might be more beneficial to just get it from me the way that I see things personally. I did have a few minor dealings with the church in my later teens too.
Where are those golden plates now? And when God chooses to make an appearance what possible good can it do showing himself to a lone individual in an apple orchard? God has terrible communication skills. Come to think of it, it's very convenient for self proclaimed messiah...
From memory - and it's been a while - the golden plates were conveniently taken back up to heaven after Joseph Smith has purportedly translated them. Some men signed a statement saying they had witnessed the plates personally.
Any truth to that list of stuff I posted?
Long list - I cant really comment on the "good" the church has done so I have removed that section. I am NOT claiming that my view on these statement reflects the truth of the situation - merely my own personal experience as a member.
If I believe that a statement DOES apply to the church AS I SAW IT I will colour it
GREEN.
If I believe that a statement DOESN'T apply to the church AS I SAW IT, or that I was not exposed to such a teaching I will colour it
RED.
If I believe that a statement DOES apply to the church AS I SAW IT and applies to other "Christian denominations" as well I will colour it
BLUE.
What harm has the church done? Lots. Here's a sample list by category:
1. Economic
a. The church demands that its members pay it ten percent of their income, whether they can afford it or not.
b. The church encourages couples to have more children (and sooner) than they normally would, again whether they can afford it or not.
c. The church mandates that its young men spend two years of their prime trying to convert new members, instead of going to school, building a career or even doing charitable work.
NB - 1a - Many churches require 10% of your income - it's a tithe - and it's biblically based.
NB - 1c - Young people go on "missions" AFTER they have completed school (usually before the start university). It's basically just an unpaid working OE, and the missionaries have often saved for the trip their entire childhoods.
2. Psychological
a. The church teaches same-sex-oriented people that they inherently evil.
b. The church instills in its members the notion that they are never good enough, no matter what they do. This has led Utah to be the anti-depressant capital of the U.S.
c. The church teaches that repentance is a long, difficult or sometimes impossible process. Young people are taught that being sexual before marriage will ruin them permanently. Masturbation guilt is heaped upon vulnerable adolescents.
d. Magical thinking is lauded while critical thinking skills are suppressed. Members are taught thought control techniques to keep them from doubting their leaders.
e. Women are taught that they are second class citizens, put on the earth to bear children and serve men.
f. The church teaches its members to lie to themselves and others, while justifying that the actions are part of some "greater good".
NB - 2a - "Inherently evil" from an original sin perspective only and that homosexuality is a sin - only to the same extent as practically every traditional Christian faith group.
3. Family Values
a. The church teaches that families are the most important thing in the universe, but what is actually promoted is an "eternal family" in a next life, not here and now.
b. Because of the above, Mormons are taught to shun people who do not share their beliefs, including other family members. A believing spouse is often counseled to divorce a non-believing one.
c. Parents are given many church jobs which cause them to spend a lot of time away from their own families.
d. Older members are encouraged to "use up" the remainder of their lives serving the church. Time and money a grandparent would normally spend on their children and grandchildren is squandered for the organization. As others have noted, this program should rightly be called "Where's Grandpa?".
NB - 3a - The concept of an eternal family is definitely a focus of the church, but the statements made there are just wrong.
NB - 3b - Mormon families are often very keen on contact with non-believers, often inviting troubled teens into their homes to live for example. The advice for believers and non-believers not to be "yoked together" is biblical and stems from the idea that one's personal salvation is more important than an earthly relationship - therefore being with a partner that could take you away from the church is a risk.
NB - 3c - Yup - and it's a real shame.
NB - 3d - I've never heard of this but maybe it is true.
